Toto Wolff defends F1 event as Horner and Verstappen face boos
- The F1 season launch event in London was a significant occasion watched by millions.
- Christian Horner and Max Verstappen faced booing from the crowd, leading to Verstappen's threat to boycott future events.
- Toto Wolff defended the event's success and suggested the booing should not overshadow the overall experience.
In London, England, on February 19, 2025, a major Formula 1 season launch event took place, with nearly 7.5 million viewers tuning in across various platforms. The event celebrated the sport's 75th anniversary and was attended by all 10 teams and 20 drivers. However, the atmosphere was marred when the Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and world champion Max Verstappen were booed by a predominantly English crowd of 15,000 people. Verstappen's displeasure was evident as he threatened to boycott future launch events if they were held in the same city again. The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, responded to the booing, suggesting that such reactions should not overshadow the event's overall success. He emphasized that the event should be regarded positively despite some negative fan behavior. The FIA condemned the tribalistic reaction of the crowd, indicating a need for a discourse on fan reactions in motorsport. Discussions regarding this issue were set to occur at an upcoming World Motor Sport Council meeting. Jos Verstappen, Max's father, echoed concerns about the booing, labeling it as unacceptable, emphasizing that such treatment of the world champion should not be tolerated. As the pre-season testing is scheduled in Bahrain ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 16, the focus remains on the teams and the impact of these crowd reactions on the sport.